E-Waste and the Circular Economy
Where Rich Countries' E-Waste Goes
How e-waste from rich countries has been shipped to places like Agbogbloshie in Ghana and Guiyu in China, how the Basel Convention regulates this, and debates over "donations" of used electronics.
E-waste often travels across borders.
Destinations
- Agbogbloshie in Ghana became infamous for burning cables and dumping e-waste, before being cleared in 2021.
- Guiyu in China was once a huge e-waste processing town.
- India and Southeast Asia also received e-waste.
Why it’s shipped
- Cheaper labour and weaker rules for recycling.
- Labelled as second-hand goods or donations to avoid restrictions.
The Basel Convention
- The Basel Convention (1989) controls cross-border movement of hazardous waste.
- Amendments in 2019-2025 tightened rules, including on e-waste.
- India restricts imports of e-waste.
Environmental justice
Poorer communities bear the health costs of rich countries’ consumption.
Legitimate reuse
Some used electronics exports provide affordable devices; distinguishing reuse from dumping is hard.
The container of "donations"
A container labelled as donated computers arrives in West Africa, but many machines don't work and end up dismantled in unsafe conditions.
Thinking e-waste stays where it's created
Much has been shipped to poorer countries.
Key takeaways
- E-waste has been shipped to Ghana, China and others.
- Cheaper labour and weak rules attracted it.
- The Basel Convention controls hazardous waste trade.
- Poorer communities bear health costs.
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